Ovechkin, Kuznetsov, Orlov to join Russia

The Russian coaching staff calls up three players of the Washington Capitals after the team has lost its Stanley Cup series against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

As the Ice Hockey Federation of Russia announced today, defenceman Dmitri Orlov and forwards Alexander Ovechkin and Yevgeni Kuznetsov will join the Russian national team at the 2016 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship.

Until now the Russian national team has registered two goaltenders and 18 skaters, keeping roster spots open for one more goalie and four more skaters. Three of them will be used for the troika from Washington that could potentially play their first game on Saturday in the match against Switzerland although details have not been announced yet. Russia will play its next game tomorrow evening against Denmark.

Ovechkin has led Russia to three World Championships in 2008, 2012 and 2014. This year’s edition in his hometown of Moscow will be his 12th World Championship since his debut as an 18-year-old in 2004.

Kuznetsov was called by the national team after doubling his point production in his second full NHL season with the Captials. The 23-year-old Chelyabinsk native has previously played at the Worlds in 2012, 2013 and 2014 winning two gold medals and a silver.

Orlov moved from his hometown of Novokuznetsk in Siberia to the Capitals and their AHL affiliate Hershey Bears in 2011 and had his breakthrough in America’s capital city this year. It will be his second World Championship after winning gold in 2014.